Aerial train



Apr. R7 1923..

W. E. IKERMAN AERIAL TRAIN Original Filed July 8; 1920 Wggne E, IkEPman 3 Sheets-Sheet l woe 44%;

Apr. N, 1923. W. E. 'KERMAN 4 IALBBQ AERIAL TRAIN Original Filed July 8. 1920 5 s tgsh t 2 \IZIUEIEI EZJEIIIIZHII Apr, 17, 1923. 1,451,830 I w. E IKERMAN AERIAL TRAIN Original Filed July 8. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 aflna Elkerman.

Zhwehtoz Patented Apr. l7, i923.

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.WAYNE ELLIOT IKERMAN. OF LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI. ASSIGNOR OF FORTY ONE- HUNDREDTHS TO BERNHARD REINIKE AND FIVE ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO FREDER- ICK IKERMAN,- BOTH OF LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI. k

AERIAL TRAIN.

Application filed July 8, 1920, Serial No. 394,635. Renewed October 12, 1922. Serial No. 594,200.

Be it known that l, WAYNE llmaor lKER- MAN. a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Beach. in the county of Harrison and State of Mississippi have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial Trains. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aerial navigation and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved aeroplane in which a: relatively large number of passengers or large quantity of freight can be conveniently carried.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aerial train embodying a plurality of spaced rlgdly connected coach bodles forming the fuselage. each of the coach bodies having supporting wings arranged thereon. and a plurality of driving motors and propellers.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for forming the planes and for arranging the planes in relation to each other and on the bodies whereby the airanay be directed under all of the planes for supporting the aerial train.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for tmaning'the coach bodies whereby a stream line effect will he obtained and whereby the aeroplane will be pertectlv balanced thereby preventing the swaying ot the train when in motion. the driving motors being also arranged in the bodies in such a manner as to form a balancing weight for the same.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a means wherebv certain of the driving propellers will rotate in one direction and others in the opposite direction thereby tending tostabilize the plane and to permit a greater speed to be obtained therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved aeroplane embodying a plurality of spaced passenger coaches of the above character which is durable and efhcient in use. one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market. at a reasonable cost.

With thes and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction. arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificatioin in which drawings:

Figure l is a side elev-ationof the proved aerial train.

Figure .2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 2-; an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the improved train showing the wings lll section. I

lhgure 4 is a fragmentary vertical tr nserse section through the'tra-in.

Figure 5 is a front'elevation of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side: elevation of the same. i .1

Referring to the drawings-in detail,

wherein similar reference characters desig nate corresponding parts throughout the several views. the letter A generally indicates the improved aerial train which includes a plurality of coaches or bodies 10. which form the fuselage of the improved aerial train. The coach bodies 10 ;are arranged in co-linear relation and may be constructed for passenger purposes or for carrying freight and the like. i

Each of the bodies 10 are'substantially triangular shaped in cross section and have the a vex portion thereof disposed lowermost and the same includes thenpwardly extending diverging side walls hand the upper wall 12. Tl'lGlLl-DPPT wall 12 as shown includes the inclined side plate 13 which ea:- tend downwardly toward the side walls 11 trom the longitudinal center of the coaches. The coaches may be tittedsimilar to ordinarlv railroad passen er trains, and as shown an intermediate platform 14 is provided on which are fitted seats 15. The forward coaches are also provided with suitable window lights 1G.-- As shown the rear coach is especially adapted for use for. carrying freight and the like. V

There may be as many otthe coacheslO as desired and all orv only part of the same may be provided with driving motors 17 for the propellers 18.; As shown in the drawings. every other coach is provided with a driving motor and propeller. .The driving motors are. located adjacent to the lower ends or the coaches and these coaches are provided with a lower platform 19 which *torms a bed for. the motor. If so desired, more than one driving motor and propeller may be, provided for the coaches and the propellers and motors can be so arranged as to provide a central propeller and side propellers.

,to thc direction in which they are to rotate.

By having the propellers to rotate in opposite directions a better speed is also obtained from the machine. The forward end of each otthe coaches is made of triangular shageso as to reduce friction thereon and each-includes the inclined plates 20, 21 and and The coaches 10 are braced by the upper and lower longitudinally extending bars 23 and; ll. The upper bar 23 is connected to the upper central portion of the coaches 10 by means of vertically disposed short bars 213. The upper bars 23 are further connected to the side edges of the coaches by means of inclined bars or cables 26. Suitable crossed diagonal guy rods or braces 27 are provided between each of the coaches so as to. further brace the construction.

The forward coach 10 is provided with the outwardly extending wings 28 and these wings extend rcarwardly and are connected to the forward edge of. the adjacent coach. its clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the forward edge of the front wings or planes 28 are inclined upwardly and forwardly as at 29 and substantially half of the upper surface of the plane is provided with an auxiliary plane or wing 30, The auxiliary plane or wing 30 is connected. to the planes or wings 28, at its "forward edge. and is inclined upwardly and then downwardly rearwardly. This auxiliary plane "forms means for directing the air towards the rear planes 31 carried by the intermediate coaches 10. The planes or wings 31 are also slightly inclined rearwardly and downwardly and terminate at the front portion of the adjacent coaches. The forward. edges of the intermediate planes or wings are curved upwardly as at and serve to catch and direct the air be.- low the planes to form a-supportin'g surface for the same. The planesor wings 31 carried by the intermediate coaches begin ap proximately at the transverse center of the coach which provides a space intermediate each plane or wing and this space forms the means whereby the air may be directed beneath the planes to form the supporting surface. The coach directly in front of the rearniost coach is provided with wings or planes 33 and these planes have. their side edges gradually inclined as at 34- toward the rear end of the rearmost coach 10. The forward end of this plane is also turned upwardly as at 35.

Each of the wings 2H. 31 and 33 are braced by suitable guy ropes 37 which extend to the lower cilges of the coaches l0 and to the longitudinal brace rods 23 and 24.

Any suitable landing gear 38 be provided for the aerial train and as shown the front and rear coaches are provided re-' spcctively with wheels 39 and 40 and certain of the intermediate coaches are also provided with Wheels 41. i

The rear coach 10 carries the elevating planes 43 and the guiding planes 44. These planes are provided with suitable cables which extend to the pilot or pilots seats.

In Figures 5 and 6 is illustrated a slightly modified form of the invention in which the auxiliary supporting planes 30 are eliminated and in which wings and 46 are provided. These wings 4.5 and 46 are inclined slightly upwardly and outwardly as clearly shown inthe drawings and serve as means to deflect the air toward the other planes. The forward edges of these planes are also inclined slightly upwardly as at 47. The outer terminals of the'wings 45 and 46 are provided with depending extensions 49 which serve as means for catching the air and preventing the escape thereof laterally off of the wings. The upward out-ward inclination of the wings 45 and 46 is such as to permit the air to be directed toward the rear wings and to form an eflicient supporting surface for the machine.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that an improved aeroplane has been provided which is exceedingly simple and durable in construction, and includes a plurality of spaced coaches by means of which a relatively large number of passengers or a relatively large amount of freight may be carried.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim:

1. Au aeroplane train comprising a plurality of colinear coaches. means rigidly connecting the coaches together in spaced relation, propelling means for and arranged between ertain of the coaches, and outwardly extending wings carried by the coaches and arranged in spaced relation to each other.

2. An aeroplane train comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced coaches, means connecting the coaches together, means for propelling the coaches, outwardly extending wings carried by the coaches, the wings being arranged in spaced relation to each other and extending from one coach to the next adjacent coach.

An aeroplane train comprising a plurality of spaced coaches, driving motors,

propellers for the coaches, means connecting the coaches together, landing gear carried by the coaches. outwardly extending wings carried by each of the coaches, the wings being arranged in spaced relation and extending from one coach to the next adjacent coach, the forward terminals of the intermediate wings being bent upwardly and outwardly.

4. An aeroplane train comprising a plurality of spaced coaches. means connecting the coaches togetheig outwardly extending wings carried by the upper ends of the coaches. the wings being arranged in spaced relation to each other and extending from one coach to the next adjacent coach, and propellers and driving motors carried by certain of the coaches.

5. An aeroplane train comprising a plurality of spaced substantially V-shaped longitudinally extending coaches having their apex portions disposed lowermost, means connecting the coaches together. driving motors carried by the coaches and arranged adjacent to the lower ends thereof, propellers, means operatively connecting the propellers with the motors, outwardly extending supporting wings carried by the upper ends of the coaches, the forward ends of the wings being inclined upwardly and outwardly.

6. An aeroplane train comprising a pin-- rality of substantially V-shaped coaches, outwardly extending wings carried by the upper ends of the coaches, the wings being arranged in spaced relation to each other and extending from one coach to the next adjacent coach, the rearmost pair of win being tapered toward the rear coach, e evating and guiding planes carried by the rear coach, and driving motors and propellers carried by the coaches.

7. An aeroplane train comprising a plurality of spaced coaches, means connecting the coaches together, outwardly extending supporting wings carried by the coaches, the wings being arranged in spaced relation and extending from one coach toward the next adjacent coach, an auxiliary supporting wing carried by the first coach arranged in superposed relation to the first mentioned supporting wing, the forward edges of the auxiliary supporting wing and the first men tioned supporting wing being connected together, the rear edge of the auxiliary supporting Wing being extended rearwardly and downwardly.

WAYNE ELLIOT IKERMAN. 

